A parent coaching model for challenging children. A three phase treatment approach to helping improve the parent-child relationship and decrease negative behaviors in children ages 2-8 Lisasavagelcsw.com

1. Lisa R. Savage, LCSW
Ivy League trained mental health professional
Trained in PCIT-Parent Child Interaction Therapist
Specializes in mental health disorders among children and
adolescents. She has a special interest in neuroscience and brain
flexibility.
Over 20 years experience

2. • S. Robin Gillis, MSMHC, brings
a diverse professional
background and years of broadbased experience in the Human
Services/Mental Health
field, along with a strong
neuroscience-based training in
child. Robin is a certified
parent educator and childcare
provider
facilitator/trainer, specializing
in child development (pre-natal
through age 18 encompassing
neuroscience with the four
domains of development).

3. Parent-Child Interaction
Improve your relationship with your child, learn skills to manage
difficult behaviors

4. Familiar Scenarios
• 2 year old Johnny has temper tantrums. He has a
difficult time when his parents tell him, ‘no’. He has
been put out of two day care centers. He has great
difficulty listening.
• 7 year old Sally has always had aggressive behaviors at
home and school. She is disrespectful to most adults and
does not listen. Her parents experience a high level of
stress in trying to manage her challenging behaviors.

5. The Challenge
• Most parents want to do their best and give their children what
they need to be successful.
• Every child is born with a different temperament—some are easy
going, yet others present challenges and typical parenting skills
just don’t work.
• Parents might find that what works with one child does not work
with another child. They may experience frustration, stress and
hopelessness, because nothing seems to work.

6. Why this type of parent coaching works
• It is scientifically supported with proven techniques that
give special attention to the relationship between parent
and child and will improve the challenging behaviors.
• It involves teaching and coaching parents to use specific
skills to improve behavior, empower parents, and make
parenting more enjoyable.

7. Who is a good candidate for parent coaching?
• Families with children ages 2-8 years old
• Children who act out at home and school as well as other settings
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Physically and/or verbally aggressive behavior.
Defiant behavior
Difficulty following directions
temper tantrums
Swearing
Oppositional behaviors
Currently living with one or both of their parents (the program is also suited
for foster and adoptive parents)

8. Improved Relationships
• Parents are taught and coached on how to decrease
negative interactions with their child.
• Parents learn consistent, positive and supportive
communication to use with their child.
• Parents will be taught specialized play skills to practice
at home with their child.

9. Improve listening and obeying
• Parents are taught and coached to understand the
elements of discipline and difficult behavior
management
• They learn how to manage challenging behaviors at home
and in other settings.

10. Other Positive changes to expect
• Increase in appropriate behavior
• Decrease in behaviors such as, lying, hitting, biting
• Child will feel more secure and positive about self.
• Parents will learn consistent and predictable ways of responding
to inappropriate behaviors.
• Less stress in the family

11. How the process works—Assessment Phase
• There are three specific phases in this training.
• In the initial phase, parents will complete a behavior rating scale.
This will help to assess how severe the problem is. The behavior
scale will be administered at different intervals in the coaching to
make sure progress is being made.
Next, the parent coach will observe the parent and child engage in
three (5) minute play exercises. While they are playing, the
therapist will be taking notes to share with the parent.
• Next, the coach will meet with the parent to discuss the
findings, as well as begin teaching the specific skills.
• Parents will need to commit to spending time playing with their
child five minutes every night using the skills.

12. Phase 1-Child Directed Interaction
• Parent and child will play while coach observes their interactions.
• Coach will guide parent to using specific skills during the play
time.
• Coach will be recording how parent uses skills
• Parents will learn to master skills with the guidance of the coach.
• Once mastery has been met, participants will be moved to the
second phase

13. Phase 2-Parent Directed interaction
• The discipline phase—parents will learn skills to improve
compliance with their child.
• Learn how to give effective commands that your child will obey.
• What to do when your child doesn’t listen.
• Learn and practice specialized time out
• Parent coach will guide you through this process until you’ve
mastered all of the steps.

14. Ending Phase
• Parent will have mastered the skills in the two stages
• Feel comfortable to use skills without the parent coach
• There will be a significant decrease in the behavior scale